Wegmans breaks down language barrier

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans blogger Mary Ellen Burris, SVP consumer affairs Wegmans, earlier this week outlined the grocer’s services for those patients who speak English as a second language or who don’t speak English at all.

"Once it’s clear there is a language barrier, the pharmacist presents a simple card with several languages identified, and the patient/customer can point to his or language. There is access to 200 languages," Burris wrote. "A phone with two handsets allows both the pharmacist and the customer to be on the phone at the same time, with the interpreter, through a service called Language Line Solutions. Our pharmacy folks are trained in its use, and it was exciting to hear about the first time it was used at one of Rochester stores, on Mt. Read Blvd."

The Language Line Solutions service was instituted this past fall, Burris noted.

"The second kind of assistance is something called Meducation — by our partner, Polyglot — for printed prescription drug information," she noted. Meducation is a simplified version of patient information available in several languages, including Spanish, Russian, Italian, Cantonese and Mandarin, plus 18 others.

The popularity of gamification as a business strategy continues, noted the promotional products retailer. With organizations continuously striving to find new ways to engage and capture the imagination of both their customers and employees, gamification is providing answers.

“Perhaps part of the reason gamification is growing in popularity is because it can be adopted by any company regardless of their size or sector,” stated Cheryl Jackson Leafield, marketing manager of 4imprint UK and Ireland. “When it comes to innovation and engagement, it leads to savings and opportunities. In other words, it’s more than just a fun thing to do, it’s a cost effective strategy.”

The paper takes the reader through the basic concept and terms used (in gamification strategies) and highlights companies that have had success. Conversely, gamification is not without its critics, and 4imprint provides six key points that need careful consideration before such a strategy is employed. 4imprint also considers the opinion that gamification is perhaps unsustainable for the long-term.

McKesson moves to buy out remaining shares of Celesio

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson on Friday announced that the wholesaler has launched a voluntary public takeover offer for the remaining outstanding shares of Celesio through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Dragonfly.

There are no closing conditions in relation to the takeover offer. McKesson currently exceeds 75% ownership of Celesio shares on a fully diluted basis.

The publication of the offer document for the takeover offer has been approved by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht and is now available on GlobalHealthcareLeader.com in German and in an English translation.

Celesio shareholders can now accept the takeover offer and tender their shares in Celesio at the offer price of €23.50 per share ($32.45 per share). The initial acceptance period will end on April 2, 6 p.m. EST and will be followed by an additional two-week acceptance period following the publication of the results of takeover offer.

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